Main Entry: har·em

Pronunciation: \ˈher-əm\

Function: noun

Etymology: ultimately from Arabic ḥarīm, literally, something forbidden & ḥaram, literally, sanctuary

Date: 1623

1 a : a usually secluded house or part of a house allotted to women in a Muslim household b : the wives, concubines, female relatives, and servants occupying a harem
2 : a group of women associated with one man
3 : a group of females associated with one male —used of polygamous animals